SAN LEANDRO — A City Council candidates forum at the Mission Bay retirement community Thursday provided the perfect setting for council hopefuls to highlight their plans for the city's elderly.

The event at the mobile-home park was sponsored by the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners Leagues, or GSMOL, a Sacramento-based advocacy group.

Before the forum began, candidate Linda Perry distributed campaign literature specifically addressed to Mission Bay residents. Then throughout the forum, she said she understood what it's like being a senior on a fixed income and that she plans to address quality-of-life issues affecting that population.

Perry and Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak each noted how they helped negotiate agreements involving the mobile-home park and its owner, and the Marina Community Center, which is widely used by seniors.

In addition, "I vigorously oppose Proposition 98 with its hidden attempt to eliminate rent controls," Perry said, referring to a statewide ballot question regarding the government's authority to take property by eminent domain.

"I support (Senate Bill) 900, Senator Corbett's bill, which imposes restrictions on condo conversions of mobile-home parks. I will work with GSMOL on issues to protect you," Perry added, referring to the proposal by state Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro.

Several other candidates at the forum also emphasized their opposition to Proposition 98 — and their

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preference instead for Proposition 99, the June 3 ballot measure that would provide eminent-domain protection without ending rent control.

Ten candidates are vying for three open council seats. Starosciak and Councilman Jim Prola are each running for re-election. Starosciak is running against Lou Filipovich in District 4 and Prola is facing challenges from Wafaa Aborashed, Hermy Almonte, Estelle Clemons and Mark Tichy in District 6.

Perry, Charles Gilcrest and Ursula Reed are vying for the District 2 seat, which Councilwoman Surlene Grant is vacating.

The candidates also addressed other topics, including public safety, education, development, the library system, the senior center, the San Leandro Family Aquatics Center and affordable housing.

At one point, the forum got heated when several District 6 candidates questioned Prola's experience. Aborashed said she thought Prola, who was appointed to the seat last year, wasn't fully informed about issues important to the district's residents.

"My concern is that Jim Prola represents the whole city," she said. "I agree with that, but when you're running for District 6, you have to represent District 6."

Tichy took an even stronger stab at Prola's qualifications.

"My question for Prola is, he said he's been living here for 31 years and he's never run for City Council before," Tichy said. "If he has cared about the community for so long, why didn't he step up?"

Prola later responded that he just recently retired from his job, which freed up his time. So when an opportunity came up to run for council, he did so knowing he could devote all his time to the position.

An awkward, momentary silence came about when the candidates were asked how they would fund much-needed dredging at the San Leandro Marina. The marina was last dredged in 2001.

Then, Clemons stood up and gave her thoughts on the complexity of the issue.

"It's not an issue of whether to dredge or not to dredge," she said. "The question becomes how far do we have to dredge."

She added that the city still hasn't provided enough information to the public on how much it would cost to dredge the minimum amount and said she would pressure officials for that information.

Prola was the only other candidate to speak on the issue.

He said that while he has been on the council, support for dredging has wavered among residents.

"But I've been one who would like to see us do dredging," he said. "The question is, where is the money going to come from?'"‰"

Martin Ricard can be reached at 510-293-2480 or mricard@bayareanewsgroup.com.